Portable bidet

ABSTRACT

A portable bidet and sitz bath having a basin with a peripheral flange to overlie the top rim of a conventional toilet bowl with the basin fitting within said bowl and having a drainage port near the peripheral flange. A spray head is secured to the bottom of the basin beneath the drainage port by a flexible suction cup which permits the spray head to oscillate from side to side when water is delivered thereto through a flexible coupling. This action creates a rippling crest of water which oscillates to cleanse perineal areas.

United States Patent 91 Talge et al.

[ Mar.5, 1974 PORTABLE BIDET [75] Inventors: Henry J. Talge, Kansas City, Mo.;

Samuel L. McNair, Overland Park, Kans.

[73] Assignee: Dazey Products Company, Kansas City, Mo.

22 Filed: Oct. 30, 1972 21 Appl.No.:302,046

[52] US. Cl. 4/7, 4/6 [51] Int. Cl. A47k 3/22, A47k 11/08 [58] Field of Search 4/6, 7

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,104,210 1/1938 Salvoni 4/7 3,377,629 4/1968 Pasquale.... 4/6

3,490,079 1/1970 Stolbach 3,577,567 5/1971 Wintercom.... 4/7 3,654,636 4/1972 Restyanszki 4/6 3,711,872 l/l973 Jarosinski .4 4/7 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 657,017 4/1960 Canada 4/6 1,919,057 10/1970 Germany 4/6 Primary Examinerl-lenry K. Artis Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Lowe, Kokjer, Kircher, Wharton & Bowman [5 7] 1 ABSTRACT A portable bidet and sitz bath having a basin with a peripheral flange to overlie the top rim of a conventional toilet bowl with the basin fitting within said bowl and having a drainage port near the peripheral flange. A spray head is secured to the bottom of the basin beneath the drainage port by a flexible suction cup which permits the spray head to oscillate from side to side when water is delivered thereto through a flexible coupling. This action creates a rippling crest of water which oscillates to cleanse perineal areas.

2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PORTABLE BIDET BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a portable bidet and sitz bath for cleansing and bathing refreshment in connection with perineal hygiene, particularly suited for feminine use. Toilet appliances of this genre have also been of great benefit in post-operative care and treatment of surgery patients, such as hemorrhoidectomy or similar operative procedures.

The advantages of a portable bidet, as opposed to the fixed installations, have long been recognized as providing a convenient, yet inexpensive, device which is easily stored when not in use. Relevant to this invention, Don Jian in U.S. Pat. No. 92l,962 discloses a removable bidet adapted to fit over a conventional toilet bowl and equipped with a rubber hose connected to a water supply and a spray nozzle which may be hand directed. This arrangement is very awkward and cumbersome, particularly when the user is in a seated position to achieve full advantage of the appliance. In addition, water spray directly applied to delicate skin tissue may be unpleasant and uncomfortable.

The primary goal of this invention is to provide a pleasant and comforting hygiene device for cleansing and soaking applications. Such device is adapted for use with a conventional toilet bowl and conventional water faucets, but easily and quickly disconnectable for storage.

Another object of the invention is to provide a portable bidet and sitz bath of the character described and providing a rippling crest of water to oscillate from side to side within the basin to gently lave the perineal region, but requiring no action on behalf of user and thereby permitting such activities as reading and the like.

Other and further objects of the invention, together with the features of novelty pertinent thereto, will appear in the course of the following description of the drawing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of the specification and is to be read in conjunction therewith, and in which like reference numerals are employed to indicate like parts in the various views:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the bidet shown supported on a conventional toilet bowl and operatively connected to a conventional water faucet;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the bidet;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view, partly sectional, taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings in more detail, the portable bidet and sitz bath includes a basin, generally referred to by the numeral 10, having a substantially flat bottom a and an upwardly extending sidewall 10b integral therewith, and terminating in a peripheral flange 100. The bottom 10a and side wall 10b region of the basin is sufiiciently small in size to fit within a conventional toilet bowl 11, whereas the peripheral flange 10c extends outwardly from said side wall 10b a sufficient distance to overlie the top rim 1 1a of the toilet bowl 1 I for supporting engagement.

A hole 10d may be provided through the flange to facilitate storage of the bidet on a nail or hook when not in use. The flange 100 is also provided a pair of opposed ears Me which project outwardly from the flange. The ears we aid in supporting the basin on the top rim 11a of the toilet bowl to empty the water therefrom at the conclusion of its use.

Toward the rear of the basin, the side wall 10b is depressed outwardly to provide a channel 10f which extends from the bottom 10a to the flange 10c. Discharge openings 10g are provided through the channel wall 10f and are located closely adjacent the upper regions of the side wall 1017, near the peripheral flange 10c, and terminate well above the bottom 10a of the basin. Such discharge ports 10g may be provided at various locations in the side wall 1012, but locating such openings to the rear of the basin also aids in draining water from the basin at the conclusion of use.

A basin typical of the foregoing character is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,490,079 by Stolbach, issued Jan. 20, 1970 entitled Portable Bidet. Reference may be made to such patent for the various advantages and uses of the construction.

To the rear of the basin 10, within the channel 10f is a centrally disposed recess 1011 which is covered throughout a substantial portion of the length thereof by a cover plate 101' attached to the channel wall 10f and extending downwardly from the peripheral flange 100, but terminating above the bottom 10a of the basin.

Removably secured to the bottom 10a of the basin by a flexible connector 12, such as a rubber suction cup, is a spray head 13. The spray head 13 comprises an elongate hollow body having a curved upper surface 13a with a plurality of holes 13b therein. As shown in FIG. 3 the upper surface 13a of the sprayer l3 terminates well beneath the discharge openings 10g.

Connected to the rearof the sprayer 13 is a flexible tube 14 which is slidably received within the passagedefined by the recess 10h and cover plate 101. The opposite end of the tube 14 is connected, by means of a conventional hose coupling, to a water supply 15, probably most convenient being the water faucet of the bathroom sink in which the toilet I] is located. The tubing 14 may be fabricated from any conventional material, but it is necessary that the connection to the sprayer 13 permit slight rotational movement.

The spray head 13 may be secured to the bottom 10a toward the rear of the basin or toward the front of the basin depending upon the region of the body to be cleansed. The sprayer 13 is longitudinally oriented with respect to the basin for proper operation, and the longitudinal axis of the sprayer 13 preferably overlies the longitudinal axis of the basin 1 0.

In operation, the basin 10 is placed within the toilet bowl 11 with the peripheral flange 102 overlying the top rim 11a thereof, as shown in FIG. 1. The tubing 14 is connected to the water faucet 15 and the spray head 13 is secured to the bottom 10a of the basin by the flexible connector 12 in the appropriate region. Water 16, conventionally adjusted to a pleasant temperature, is delivered through the tubing 14 to the sprayer l3 and begins to fill the basin 10. Once the basin 10 has been filled to the level of openings 103, water 16 drains into the toilet bowl 11 through the discharge openings 103 at the same rate as the flow to the basin from the water supply 15. Water flow passing through the spray head 13 then causes a rippling crest 16b or wave of flow water to rise above the water surface 16c as shown in FIG. 4. By virtue of the flexible connector 12 securing the sprayer 13 to the bottom 10a of the basin and the flexible hose l4 permitting slight rotational movement about the longitudinal axis of the sprayer 13, the sprayer 13 is caused to oscillate from side to side. This action creates oscillation of the crest or wave 16b across the surface 16c of the water. When the oscillating wave action is established and the temperature of the water is suitably adjusted, the portable bidet and sitz bathvis ready for use and the user may enjoy the gentle cleansing and laving action.

Upon completion of the hygienic and/or therapeutic benefits of the bidet, the flow of water is stopped and the hose 14 may be uncoupled from the faucet 15. The forward portion of the peripheral flange 100 may be grasped to raise and tilt the basin 10, being supported on the ears lt s s s s .thstsm. IifillllP t t sa sa,

bowl, and thereby pour the water 16 from the basin l into the toilet bowl 11. Thus drained, the basin may be conveniently stored until again needed for y s 9.. a ma From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure.

lt will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed with out reference to other features and subcombinations.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be underst00d that all matter herein set forth or 4 shown in the accompanying drawing is to b e interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. A portable bidet for a toilet bowl, said bidet comprising:

a basin having a bottom, a side wall and a peripheral flange to overlie the top rim of said toilet bowl for supporting the basing therein;

a drainage aperture through said side wall and adjacent said peripheral flange;

a spray head disposed within said basin beneath said drainage aperture;

a flexible pedestal attached to the spray head for removably connecting said spray head to the bottom of said basin;

water supply means;

a flexible coupling connected to said spray head and connected to said water supply means for delivering water to said basin through said spray head, whereby water contained within said basin is maintained at a uniform surface level above said spray head by said drainage aperture discharging water to the toilet bowl, and said flexible pedestal and flexible coupling permitting said spray head to 05- cillate when water is delivered thereto, causing a rippling crest of water to rise above said uniform surface level and to oscillate across the water surface in response to oscillation of said spray head,

2. The bidet as in claim 1, said spray head comprising an elongate hollow body member with a curved upper face having a plurality of upwardly directed openings therethrough, and said member being oriented longitudinaily of said basin. 

1. A portable bidet for a toilet bowl, said bidet comprising: a basin having a bottom, a side wall and a peripheral flange to overlie the top rim of said toilet bowl for supporting the basing therein; a drainage aperture through said side wall and adjacent said peripheral flange; a spray head disposed within said basin beneath said drainage aperture; a flexible pedestal attached to the spray head for removably connecting said spray head to the bottom of said basin; water supply means; a flexible coupling connected to said spray head and connected to said water supply means for delivering water to said basin through said spray head, whereby water contained within said basin is maintained at a uniform surface level above said spray head by said drainage aperture discharging water to the toilet bowl, and said flexible pedestal and flexible coupling permitting said spray head to oscillate when water is delivered thereto, causing a rippling crest of water to rise above said uniform surface level and to oscillate across the water surface in response to oscillation of said spray head.
 2. The bidet as in claim 1, said spray head comprising an elongate hollow body member with a curved upper face having a plurality of upwardly directed openings therethrough, and said member being oriented longitudinally of said basin. 